Radio România Internațional

Tag: Liberal

  • Government presents 6-month review

    Government presents 6-month review

    Until recently sworn political enemies, the National Liberal Party and
    the Social Democratic Party were forced to form a government together 6
    months ago. Together with the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania,
    they set out to synchronise their doctrines and form a coalition able to run
    the country until the forthcoming parliamentary elections.


    It took lengthy and careful negotiations to assign the seats in the
    government, and they agreed, among other things, that until the end of November
    2023 the prime minister will be the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă, who will be replaced
    by a Social Democrat for the remaining period until the general elections of 2024.


    The context in which the two parties have to work together is not at all
    easy: the effects of the pandemic, the Russian invasion in neighbouring Ukraine
    with all the problems it entailed, the skyrocketing energy prices triggering increases
    in the price of all products and services and generating record-high inflation,
    with severe repercussions on people’s lives.


    With the parliamentary election still a long way down the road, the
    cooperation between the Liberals and the Social Democrats is smooth, at least
    for the time being. Still, the 2 parties presented a review of their 6 months
    in power in separate meetings.


    The Liberal PM Nicolae Ciucă said the government was gradually drawing
    closer to meeting all the goals listed in the governing programme. He added
    that the ministries worked hard not to waste the unique opportunities the
    country has at this point.


    Romania has the biggest economic growth rate in the EU, and over EUR 90 billion
    available for development and modernisation, as well as the most important
    security guarantees ensured by the EU and NATO membership, Nicolae Ciucă argued.


    In turn, the Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu focused on the
    social and economic measures to support citizens and the business environment
    in the first 6 months in government. He mentioned the raise in minimum wages,
    pensions and child benefits, the winter financial aid granted to low-income pensioners
    and the extension of furlough benefits.


    The opposition sees things differently. After leaving the government
    they had formed together with the Liberals, Save Romania Union now argues that
    Romania is headed for disaster: the government is borrowing money from the
    capital market for the highest interests in the past 20 years, government debt
    is over 50% of the GDP, the inflation rate is record-high, prices are out of
    control, citizens are growing poorer while party clients are getting richer.


    In turn, the nationalist party AUR believes the Social Democrats and the
    Liberals have pushed Romania into bankruptcy by doubling fuel prices and
    selling the natural gas to be extracted from the Black Sea.


    But it is the Romanian voters who will give a final verdict at the
    election in 2024. (AMP)

  • A new crisis in the Liberal Party

    A new crisis in the Liberal Party

    An extraordinary
    congress of the National Liberal Party, a member of the ruling coalition in
    Romania, will be held on April 10 in order to elect a new party president, the
    Liberals’ National Council decided this Sunday. As many as 1,300 delegates will
    take part. Until then, the head of the Suceava County Council Gheorghe Flutur will
    act as interim president.


    On Saturday, the Senate Speaker Florin Cîţu
    announced his resignation as head of the Liberal Party. Many Liberals had
    demanded that he stepped down, over claims that he caused tensions with the
    Social Democrats within the ruling coalition, that he failed to communicate to
    party members and that he has a poor public image that affects the party’s
    scores in voting intention polls.


    Cîţu’s opponents would like the party
    presidency to be taken over by PM Nicolae Ciucă, who, mass media argue, has a
    much better public image and a coherent dialogue with the ruling partners. A respected military professional, Ciucă is
    however involved in a plagiarism scandal concerning his Ph.D. thesis.


    The former PM Cîţu was elected party president
    only half a year ago, in late September 2021. Openly supported by the head of
    state Klaus Iohannis at that point, he won a tight election against another
    former prime minister, Ludovic Orban, who had been running the party since
    2017. Orban claimed that congress saw the most serious
    violations of democratic rules ever committed in a political party in the last 31
    years. He also announced then that he renounced his partnership with Iohannis,
    to whom he had seemed quite loyal up to that point, and in December he quit the
    party altogether, and jointly with other former Liberals he set up a new right-of-centre
    party.


    Founded in 1875, the National Liberal Party has always taken
    pride in leading Romania in its most propitious moments: the proclamation of
    its independence in 1877, when the country got
    rid of centuries-long Ottoman rule, and the Great Union of 1918, when after WWI
    all the territories inhabited mostly by Romanians and previously under Russian
    and Austrian-Hungarian domination joined the Kingdom of Romania. Outlawed by
    the post-war communist dictatorship brought in by Soviet troops, the National
    Liberal Party re-emerged in the Romanian political arena shortly after the
    anti-communist revolution of 1989, and takes pride in being in power in 2007, when
    Romania was accepted in the EU.


    But countless in-house scandals in recent years
    have overshadowed the public’s confidence in the Liberal Party. In the latest
    voting intentions poll, the Liberals stand at 16%, only 1% above the
    nationalist AUR party in opposition and 20% below their current ruling
    partners, the Social Democrats. (A.M.P.)

  • A new government for Romania

    A new government for Romania

    Designated by president
    Klaus Iohannis for the second time in recent weeks to form a new government,
    the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă managed this time around to persuade a majority of
    MPs to endorse his team. This is thanks to the alliance of his party with the
    Social Democrats, who hold the largest number of seats in Parliament, and with
    the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), a junior partner
    of the Liberals in the ruling coalition ever since the 2020 election.


    The USR had also been
    partners in the same coalition, but following disagreements with the Liberal PM
    Florin Cîțu they decided to pull out nearly 3 months ago, and to back a
    no-confidence motion tabled by the Social Democrats.


    For the UDMR, things are
    relatively simple: in the new government team, they get to keep the 3 ministries
    they headed before (regional development, environment and sports) and receive a
    deputy PM post as well.


    The negotiations between
    the Liberals and the Social Democrats, on the other hand, were rather
    complicated. The 2 parties eventually agreed on a rotation of prime ministers between
    them and managed to have the governing programme include vital measures which,
    they claim, are eagerly awaited by their voters.


    Such measures include
    earmarking 7% of GDP for investments, implementing the National Recovery and
    Resilience Plan and using the Anghel Saligny Investment Plan to
    reduce development gaps between the country’s regions. Nicolae Ciucă also promises
    to raise child allowances, minimum wages, and public pensions.


    Virgil Popescu, who will
    stay on as energy minister, announced that as of early next year the mechanism
    protecting consumers from growing energy prices will be revised and measures
    will be taken to ensure households and companies are not affected.


    Sorin Cîmpeanu, who also
    carries on his term in office at the education ministry, says his first
    priority is to set up a committee to work on a new education law.


    As much as 70 billion euro
    will be invested in the next 10 years in transport infrastructure, says the Social
    Democrat Sorin Grindeanu, who also promises full transparency in terms of
    public spending at the transport ministry.


    Another
    Social Democrat, and the only woman in the new cabinet, Gabriela Firea, will be in charge
    of a newly established ministry of youth and family.


    In the context of the ongoing
    pandemic, testing and encouraging citizens to go to the doctor as soon as
    possible, alongside with providing proper healthcare services, are the
    short-term measures planned by Alexandru Rafila, chosen by the Social
    Democratic Party to head the healthcare ministry. Dr. Rafila also spoke about
    the polarisation in the Romanian society and the rift between the vaccinated
    and the unvaccinated.


    The Liberal Cătălin
    Predoiu, who was a justice minister in the past as well, says meeting the terms
    of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is a goal for the new coalition,
    along with dismantling the special section investigating offences in the
    judiciary and the amendment of the laws regulating the justice system.



    NATO, the EU and the strategic partnership with the USA are the pillars
    of Romania’s defence and security policy, says the new defence minister Vasile
    Dîncu, also backed by the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu, whose priority
    remains the consolidation of Romania’s role and standing in the EU and NATO. (tr.
    A.M. Popescu)

  • A new government for Romania

    A new government for Romania

    Designated by president
    Klaus Iohannis for the second time in recent weeks to form a new government,
    the Liberal Nicolae Ciucă managed this time around to persuade a majority of
    MPs to endorse his team. This is thanks to the alliance of his party with the
    Social Democrats, who hold the largest number of seats in Parliament, and with
    the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), a junior partner
    of the Liberals in the ruling coalition ever since the 2020 election.


    The USR had also been
    partners in the same coalition, but following disagreements with the Liberal PM
    Florin Cîțu they decided to pull out nearly 3 months ago, and to back a
    no-confidence motion tabled by the Social Democrats.


    For the UDMR, things are
    relatively simple: in the new government team, they get to keep the 3 ministries
    they headed before (regional development, environment and sports) and receive a
    deputy PM post as well.


    The negotiations between
    the Liberals and the Social Democrats, on the other hand, were rather
    complicated. The 2 parties eventually agreed on a rotation of prime ministers between
    them and managed to have the governing programme include vital measures which,
    they claim, are eagerly awaited by their voters.


    Such measures include
    earmarking 7% of GDP for investments, implementing the National Recovery and
    Resilience Plan and using the Anghel Saligny Investment Plan to
    reduce development gaps between the country’s regions. Nicolae Ciucă also promises
    to raise child allowances, minimum wages, and public pensions.


    Virgil Popescu, who will
    stay on as energy minister, announced that as of early next year the mechanism
    protecting consumers from growing energy prices will be revised and measures
    will be taken to ensure households and companies are not affected.


    Sorin Cîmpeanu, who also
    carries on his term in office at the education ministry, says his first
    priority is to set up a committee to work on a new education law.


    As much as 70 billion euro
    will be invested in the next 10 years in transport infrastructure, says the Social
    Democrat Sorin Grindeanu, who also promises full transparency in terms of
    public spending at the transport ministry.


    Another
    Social Democrat, and the only woman in the new cabinet, Gabriela Firea, will be in charge
    of a newly established ministry of youth and family.


    In the context of the ongoing
    pandemic, testing and encouraging citizens to go to the doctor as soon as
    possible, alongside with providing proper healthcare services, are the
    short-term measures planned by Alexandru Rafila, chosen by the Social
    Democratic Party to head the healthcare ministry. Dr. Rafila also spoke about
    the polarisation in the Romanian society and the rift between the vaccinated
    and the unvaccinated.


    The Liberal Cătălin
    Predoiu, who was a justice minister in the past as well, says meeting the terms
    of the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism is a goal for the new coalition,
    along with dismantling the special section investigating offences in the
    judiciary and the amendment of the laws regulating the justice system.



    NATO, the EU and the strategic partnership with the USA are the pillars
    of Romania’s defence and security policy, says the new defence minister Vasile
    Dîncu, also backed by the foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu, whose priority
    remains the consolidation of Romania’s role and standing in the EU and NATO. (tr.
    A.M. Popescu)

  • No-confidence motion against the Government

    No-confidence motion against the Government

    The cabinet headed by the Liberal Florin Cîţu was dismissed on Tuesday
    following a no-confidence motion backed by 3 out of the 5 political parties in
    the Parliament of Romania.


    The document tabled by the Social Democrats and entitled STOP poverty,
    price rises and convicted criminals reads that Romania’s only way out of the
    on-going political, economic and social crisis is for the Cîțu government
    to step down.


    The Social Democrats criticised the Cabinet for Romanians’ worsening
    living standards, for the lack of measures to counter the energy price rises
    and the depreciation of the national currency, and for the alarming increase of
    the country’s public debt. The list also includes the poor absorption of EU
    funds, the inadequate implementation of support programmes for small businesses
    and the disinterest in the Romanian farmers’ problems.

    The Opposition also
    blamed the government made up of the National Liberal Party, USR and the
    Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania for the disaster in public
    healthcare, and argued that instead of fighting the COVID pandemic, the
    government managed to hinder the fight against chronic diseases.


    The Social Democrats were by no means lenient with USR PLUS either,
    although Cîţu’s cabinet became a minority government precisely due to the USR leaving
    the ruling coalition. But in spite of the criticism, USR backed the
    no-confidence motion, to make sure that Florin Cîţu, whom they blame for
    breaking up the coalition, is sacked. The nationalist party AUR also supported
    the motion.


    Ahead of the vote, Florin Cîţu described what he called the new majority
    (the Social Democratic Party, USR, AUR) of being irresponsible. The head of the
    Liberal floor group in the Chamber of Deputies, Florin Roman, said after the
    vote that the Liberals will come up with a new PM nomination, as soon as the
    party’s leading structures decide so.


    The Social Democrats are hoping for early elections, and, should a
    political majority be reached, they are considering a government of experts
    until such elections are held, the party chief Marcel Ciolacu said. The ball is
    now in president Iohannis’s court, according to the Constitution, the Social
    Democratic leader also said, and emphasised the need to overcome this moment
    of political hysteria and to move into a responsible and constitution-abiding
    area.


    The new president of USR, Dacian Cioloş, called on the outgoing PM to
    show self-discipline and said he expected a balanced response from the
    National Liberal Party. He said he would refrain from further comments until a realistic
    proposal for a ruling coalition is made.


    In turn, Deputy George Simion, co-president of AUR party, said Florin
    Cîţu should not be kept even on an interim term, and mentioned that his party
    has a list of experts ready for a technocratic government, and will negotiate
    it with the other political parties. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • No-confidence motion against Romania’s government

    No-confidence motion against Romania’s government

    The Liberal Florin Cîţu’s cabinet is today facing its most important
    political test to date-a vote on a no-confidence motion tabled against it by
    the Social Democrats in opposition. The document, entitled STOP to poverty, price
    rises and convicted criminals, argues that Romania’s only way out of the
    on-going political, economic and social crisis is for the Cîțu government
    to step down.


    The Social Democrats criticise the government for Romanians’ declining
    living standards, for the lack of measures to counter the rise in energy prices
    and the depreciation of the national currency, and for the alarming increase of
    the public debt. The list goes on with the poor absorption of EU funds, the
    inadequate programmes to support small and medium businesses, and the
    disinterest in farmers’ difficulties.


    Also, according to the Social Democrats, the government made up of the
    National Liberal Party, USR PLUS and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians
    in Romania did not fight against the COVID pandemic, but rather only managed to
    hinder the fight against chronic diseases.


    The opposition does not fail to mention PM Florin Cîţu’s problems with
    the law, during his student years in the US, when he was caught driving under
    the influence. The story came to light recently, and it probably would have
    been overlooked had it not been for the problems within the ruling coalition.


    The motion is not by no means lenient as far as USR is concerned,
    although the Cîţu government became a minority government precisely because USR
    left the coalition. Although they are criticised in the motion as well, USR announced
    they would support the motion, so as to make sure PM Florin Cîţu, whom they see
    as responsible for breaking up the ruling coalition, is removed.


    In fact, USR were the first to table a motion of censure against the
    Liberal government. This motion, also backed by the nationalist party AUR, got
    stuck at the Constitutional Court, and will become redundant if the Social
    Democrats’ motion passes.


    The government stands little chances to survive the motion. Arithmetic shows
    that the Social Democrats, USR and AUR have 280 votes in Parliament, and the
    motion only needs 234 votes to pass. The cabinet only relies on the
    163 votes of the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union of Ethnic
    Hungarians, whereas the parliamentary groups representing other ethnic
    minorities will not take part in the vote.


    Florin Cîţu accused what he called the new
    majority made up of the Social Democratic Party, USR and AUR, of being
    irresponsible, and announced that the Liberal MPs will take part in the
    debates, but will not vote. (tr. A.M.
    Popescu)



  • Romania’s Liberals have new leaders

    Romania’s Liberals have new leaders

    As
    of Saturday, PM Florin Cîţu is the president of the National Liberal Party, the
    leader of the ruling coalition in Bucharest, after defeating his former party chief
    Ludovic Orban. The two spared no efforts during the battle for supremacy, and
    commentators agree that the competition degenerated, severely damaging the
    party image and, more importantly, virtually obstructing the work of the
    government.


    This
    comes at a time when Romania is faced with yet another shortage of intensive
    care beds for severe COVID cases, and with a dramatic increase in energy prices. The
    Liberals’ new president, Florin Cîţu, sees his election as the starting point
    of a trend that will change the country.


    Florin
    Cîţu    : I promise to be the president of all
    Liberals, regardless of your vote. We are a united party and will use all our
    resources against our political opponent, the Social Democratic Party. You should
    know that this was not just a campaign, it was a movement, started within the
    National Liberal Party, a movement that will change Romania for the better.


    While
    for 60% of the participants in the Liberals’ congress Florin Cîţu is the
    solution, for their former partners in the ruling coalition, USR PLUS, he is
    the problem. USR PLUS left the right-of-centre coalition after the justice
    minister Stelian Ion was dismissed out of the blue, and said they would not
    return in the government unless Florin Cîţu gives up the PM post.


    Without
    USR PLUS, Cîţu’s Cabinet has no parliamentary majority to back it, and risks
    being dismissed if the no-confidence motion tabled by USR PLUS and the
    nationalist party AUR is validated by the Constitutional Court and passed in
    Parliament. This
    is precisely why the new Liberal leader announced negotiations with all
    political parties, to put together a parliamentary majority to support his
    cabinet.


    The
    Social Democrats in opposition seem to want Cîţu dismissed as well. They say
    the days of the current government are numbered and that, in case the USR PLUS
    – AUR motion fails, they have drafted their own no-confidence motion. The
    Social Democratic leader Marcel Ciolacu had this to say:


    Marcel
    Ciolacu    : Definitely, as soon as the Constitutional Court greenlights the
    motion, the Social Democratic Party will vote in its favour. If the Court
    dismisses the motion, we will immediately table our own motion against the
    government and will invite the other parties to back it.


    A
    minority government is not a novelty in Romania. A government made up of the
    Liberals and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, unofficially
    backed by the Social Democrats, and headed by Călin Popescu Tăriceanu, was in
    power between 2007 and the elections of 2008. The price was high, however: the
    government had to give up all major reform projects and to adopt populist
    measures, lacking financial support.


    The
    same threatens to be the case at present as well, although Florin Cîţu promised
    adamantly to put an end to irresponsible public spending and to streamline public
    administration. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • September 25, 2021 UPDATE

    September 25, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID-19 The number of COVID
    cases continues to rise in Romania, with more than 7,000 daily new cases
    reported for several days in a row. Nearly 10,000 SARS-CoV-2 patients are in
    hospitals, 264 of them children, while 1,195 patients are in intensive care. Nationwide,
    hundreds towns and villages are on the red list of places with infection rates
    of over 3 per thousand. The capital Bucharest is also on the list, and as of
    today additional restrictions are in place in the city. The digital COVID
    certificate is required for participation in certain events, and even so indoor
    weddings and similar events are to be attended by 200 people at most, while
    restaurants, performance halls, pools and the like operate at half their
    capacity and only accept COVID certificate holders. As the number of infections
    grows, Romanians get more open to immunisation, with over 14,000 people having
    received a shot in the last 24 hours.


    LIBERALS
    The Liberals’s president for the next 4 years is PM Florin Cîţu, who won the
    race against the former party chief Ludovic Orban. The winner got some 60% of
    the votes of the around 5,000 delegates
    from all party branches in the country attending the Congress held Saturday in
    Bucharest. The National Liberal Party is a united party as of today, Florin
    Cîţu said after the results were made official. I promise I will be the
    president of all Liberals, regardless of your vote today, he added. Ludovic
    Orban congratulated Florin Cîţu for his victory, and said on Monday he would
    step down as speaker of the Chamber of Deputies. President Klaus Iohannis was also present at the
    congress. The two ran harsh campaigns, with unprecedented
    attacks against each other. At stake is more than the party presidency, and Saturday’s
    battle will also decide the governing formula and the parliamentary majority.


    FRIGATE The Romanian frigate
    Queen Marie has concluded its participation in the NATO Operation Sea
    Guardian, in the Mediterranean. During the 3 weeks of commanding the NATO
    vessel unit, Queen Marie inspected over 800 ships in the
    Mediterranean. The IAR Puma Naval helicopter on board of the frigate
    contributed to the early identification of suspicious vessels. Also taking part
    in Operation Sea Guardian were vessels, aircraft and submarines from
    Romania, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain and Germany, and the missions contributed
    to strengthening security in Europe’s southern flank.


    SALARY Romanians last year
    earned gross salaries of roughly 1,030 euros, the National Statistics Institute
    announced, up 7.4% since the previous year. Net salaries, averaging at 650
    euros per month, also increased by 7.7%. The best paying sectors are IT&C, finances
    and insurance, public administration and the energy sector. At the opposite
    pole are the hospitality industry, agriculture, forestry and fishery, and the
    real estate market.


    AIRCRAFT The Canadian military aircraft sent to Romania in
    early September have carried out their first intercept in an air policing mission,
    NATO announced. The pilots of the 188 Hornets, jointly with Romanian Air Forces
    units, intercepted on September 23 two Russian Sukhoi 24 Fencers over the Black
    Sea near Romanian air space. The Russian aircraft were monitored by the Allied
    pilots once the visual identification was confirmed, the Allied Air Command
    also announced.



    DIASPORA A Romanian Foreign
    Ministry official discussed with members of the Romanian community in Italy
    about improving consular services, as many diaspora members are unhappy with
    the difficult and often unfriendly procedures required by the Romanian
    authorities. The head of the ministry’s Consular Department Valentin Muntean
    presented the reforms planned by the authorities, in a hybrid meeting attended
    by all the general consuls in Italy and around 40 representatives of Romanian
    associations in that country. The participants tackled means to modernise and
    broaden the consular network, to simplify procedures, to upgrade and optimise
    the digital platforms and systems used by the Romanian authorities, and to
    reduce red-tape. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • September 25, 2021

    September 25, 2021

    COVID-19 The number of COVID
    cases continues to rise in Romania, with more than 7,000 daily new cases
    reported for several days in a row. Nearly 10,000 SARS-CoV-2 patients are in
    hospitals, 264 of them children, while 1,195 patients are in intensive care. Nationwide,
    hundreds towns and villages are on the red list of places with infection rates
    of over 3 per thousand. The capital Bucharest is also on the list, and as of
    today additional restrictions are in place in the city. The digital COVID
    certificate is required for participation in certain events, and even so indoor
    weddings and similar events are to be attended by 200 people at most, while
    restaurants, performance halls, pools and the like operate at half their
    capacity and only accept COVID certificate holders. As the number of infections
    grows, Romanians get more open to immunisation, with over 17,000 people having
    received a shot in the last 24 hours.


    LIBERALS
    The Liberals are today
    electing their president for the next 4 years, in a Congress attended among
    others by President Klaus Iohannis. Thousands of delegates from all party
    branches in the country are choosing between the incumbent party chief Ludovic
    Orban and PM Florin Cîţu. Ludovic Orban argues he is a sure bet for the party,
    and that his goal is to rebuild the image of the party and citizens’ confidence
    in it. He says the National Liberal Party should support Romanian businesses
    and reaffirm and promote individual rights and liberties. His challenger says
    he has entered the competition in order to build and unify the Liberal Party.
    I strongly believe only a Liberal Romania can ensure the wellbeing of its
    citizens, Florin Cîţu argues, and says his priorities are to revise the
    Constitution, to ensure the country joins the Schengen visa-free area, to boost
    investments and motivate entrepreneurs. The two ran harsh campaigns, with
    unprecedented attacks against each other. At stake is more than the party
    presidency, and today’s battle is to also decide the governing formula, the
    parliamentary majority and the holders of the prime minister and Chamber of
    Deputies speaker posts.


    FRIGATE The Romanian frigate
    Queen Marie has concluded its participation in the NATO Operation Sea
    Guardian, in the Mediterranean, and is docking today in the Black Sea
    port of Constanţa. During the 3 weeks of commanding the NATO vessel unit, Queen
    Marie inspected over 800 ships in the Mediterranean. The IAR Puma Naval
    helicopter on board of the frigate contributed to the early identification of
    suspicious vessels. Also taking part in Operation Sea Guardian were
    vessels, aircraft and submarines from Romania, Croatia, Italy, Greece, Turkey,
    Spain and Germany, and the missions contributed to strengthening security in
    Europe’s southern flank.


    SALARY Romanians last year
    earned gross salaries of roughly 1,030 euros, the National Statistics Institute
    announced, up 7.4% since the previous year. Net salaries, averaging at 650
    euros per month, also increased by 7.7%. The best paying sectors are IT&C, finances
    and insurance, public administration and the energy sector. At the opposite
    pole are the hospitality industry, agriculture, forestry and fishery, and the
    real estate market.


    ELECTION In Germany, the last
    electoral rallies were held ahead of Sunday’s election, in which over 60 million
    citizens are to elect the 20th Bundestag (the single-chamber federal
    parliament). According to Radio Romania’s correspondent, this historic election
    may see the end of the 16-year leadership of Angela Merkel’s Conservatives. The
    incumbent chancellor, who stepped down as party president, urged her supporters
    to vote for Armin Laschet, the Christian Democratic Union candidate, to ensure
    the stability of the country. However, all recent polls indicate that the
    incumbent finance minister Olaf Scholz, the candidate backed by the Social
    Democratic Party (SPD) is ahead of Laschet. The election marks the end of the Merkel
    era, and press agencies note that given the tight race, the next government may
    require an alliance of 3 parties.


    DIASPORA A Romanian Foreign
    Ministry official discussed with members of the Romanian community in Italy
    about improving consular services, as many diaspora members are unhappy with
    the difficult and often unfriendly procedures required by the Romanian
    authorities. The head of the ministry’s Consular Department Valentin Muntean
    presented the reforms planned by the authorities, in a hybrid meeting attended
    by all the general consuls in Italy and around 40 representatives of Romanian
    associations in that country. The participants tackled means to modernise and
    broaden the consular network, to simplify procedures, to upgrade and optimise
    the digital platforms and systems used by the Romanian authorities, and to
    reduce red-tape. (tr. A.M. Popescu)

  • A new PM designate

    A new PM designate

    Romania has a new prime minister designate: the incumbent finance minister Florin Citu. President Klaus Iohannis announced his nomination on Wednesday, after commending the National Liberal Party for its 3 months in power, guided by what he called a reform agenda, and after criticising the Social Democrats for systematically attempting to hinder the work of the government.



    The President mentioned that the first Liberal cabinet, headed by the president of the National Liberal Party Ludovic Orban, was dismissed under a no-confidence motion by a parliamentary majority created by the Social Democratic Party against a bill reintroducing the 2-round voting system in the local elections. This is why the head of state appointed Ludovic Orban once again as prime minister designate, but the Social Democrats slowed down the required parliamentary procedures until Parliament faced a deadlock that ended in Orbans resignation.



    The president explained that by appointing Florin Citu he sought to put an end to the deadlock and to solve the problems of the country. The PM designate promised to try to put together the parliamentary majority required for his endorsement, and to come up with a list of ministers and a governing programme as soon as possible.



    Both before and after becoming a government member, Florin Citu accused the Social Democratic Party of implementing disastrous policies for the national budget. His party chief, Ludovic Orban, vowed that Citus nomination is a guarantee that the countrys economic and financial rehabilitation will continue.



    Ludovic Orban: “Florin Citu is a guarantor that the disaster left behind by irresponsible Social Democratic governments will be reversed, and also that Romania will have a sustainable economic growth, based on the normal growth engines in a capitalist economy.



    The Social Democratic Party, which still has a majority in Parliament, was prompt in responding: they will not endorse a cabinet headed by Citu. The interim president of the party Marcel Ciolacu, said:



    Marcel Ciolacu: “I find Mr. Citus designation unimaginable. I was expecting Mr. Citu to tell us how he spent the 10 billion euros he borrowed in 3 months and a half, and not to be named prime minister designate. This is unspeakable. We will decide on our next steps and discuss the matter with the other political partners. There is no doubt that the path chosen by the President leads to a political crisis.



    Ciolacu does not rule out resorting to the Constitutional Court once again. Notified by the Social Democrats, the Court ruled that Orbans nomination as PM designate for a second time was designed to ensure the collapse, rather than the success of the new Government. The Court took into account the Presidents and the Liberals outspoken plans to push for early elections.



    The 3rd biggest parliamentary group, Save Romania Union, say they are open to joining in a new government, if a parliamentary majority is achieved, and that their top priority is reintroducing the 2-round voting system in local elections. Pro Romania party on the other hand says its MPs will not endorse the new government, because the Liberals lack the legitimacy, the qualifications, the programme and the parliamentary support to govern the country.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Vote d’investiture du gouvernement au parlement roumain

    Vote d’investiture du gouvernement au parlement roumain

    Pour la première fois depuis la chute du régime communiste, la Roumanie se voit doter d’un gouvernement monocolore libéral. Réuni lundi soir en séance commune, le Parlement bicaméral de Roumanie a donné son vote d’investiture au cabinet de Ludovic Orban. Le suspens a perduré tout au long de cette réunion pendant laquelle, Orban n’avait aucune certitude de pouvoir réunir les 233 voix qui lui étaient nécessaires pour passer au Parlement. Finalement, les libéraux ont reçu 240 voix favorables, dans le contexte où leur parti occupe seulement 20% des sièges au Parlement et le parti le plus nombreux, à savoir le PSD, secondé par ProRomania, a décidé de boycotter le vote.

    A part le oui des libéraux, Ludovic Orban a bénéficié de l’appui de l’Union Sauvez la Roumanie, du Parti du Mouvement populaire, de l’Union démocrate des magyars de Roumanie, de l’Allliance des libéraux et des démocrates, des représentants des minorités nationales et de quelques parlementaires Pro Romania qui ont désobéi à leur leader, l’ancien premier ministre social-démocrate, Victor Ponta. Du coup, le cabinet de Ludovic Orban remplace celui social-démocrate de Viorica Dancila, révoqué le 10 octobre dernier, par une motion de censure initiée par le PNL. Intitulé Il faut que le gouvernement Dancila démissionne d’urgence, le document qualifiait l’équipe de Viorica Dancila de la plus nocive des 30 dernières années. Les signaitaires de la motion s’engageaient à adopter, une fois au pouvoir, un programme de gouvernance responsable, avec un accent particulier sur le développement et la modernisation du pays et la prospérité de tous les Roumains.

    Sur l’ensemble des priorités que le nouveau cabinet se donne, notons les prochaines élections présidentielles, la désignation d’un candidat au poste de commissaire européen qui soit accepté par Bruxelles ou encore, le budget pour l’année prochaine. A la différence du précédent gouvernement social-démocrate, l’actuel cabinet libéral n’a que 16 portefeuilles. Sur l’ensemble des nouvelles figures ministérielles dont les compétences sont reconnues même par les adversaires politiques des libéraux, notons l’avocat Catalin Predoiu à la Justice, le diplomate Bogdan Aurescu au Ministère des Affaires Etrangères ou encore le général, Nicolae Ciuca, au Ministère de la Défense.

    Pourtant, sur l’ensemble des nouveaux ministres, trois ont reçu un avis négatif suite aux auditions de la semaine dernière, dans les commissions de spécialité. Il s’agit du sénateur Florin Cîţu, aux Finances, de la cheffe du PNL Bucarest, Violeta Alexandru, au ministère du Travail, et du député libéral Ion Ştefan, au ministère des Travaux publics, du Développement et de l’Administration. Idéalement, la nouvelle équipe gouvernementale dirigera la Roumanie une année durant, jusqu’au moment des élections parlementaires prévues l’automne prochain. Pourtant, l’actuel cabinet est fragile, surtout que son investiture repose sur le vote de plusieurs formations qui a, chacune, son propre agenda et ses propres exigences, souvent, contradictoires. Du coup, s’inquiètent les analystes, toute motion de censure pourrait passer facilement. (trad.Ioana Stancescu)

  • Political parties prepare for European Parliament election

    Political parties prepare for European Parliament election

    Ranking third in
    line to win the European Parliament ballot of May 26th, after the
    Social-Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party, and commonly perceived
    as a pro-European alternative to the aforementioned parties, the 2020 Alliance
    was very close to being left out of the election race after the Central
    Election Office rejected the underlying protocol of the alliance signed by its
    two parties, the Save Romania Union and PLUS, for technical reasons.








    On Friday,
    however, the High Court of Cassation and Justice in Bucharest decided the 2020
    Alliance can submit its candidates in the May 26th election. The
    Central Election Office also rejected the claim of another alliance to enroll
    in the ballot, this time made up of the Great Romania Party and the United
    Romania Party.










    The reason is
    that the late Corneliu Vadim Tudor still appears as president of the Great
    Romania Party in the Party Register. Since his death in 2015, the party didn’t
    change the party leader’s name in the register. The United Romania Party will
    submit its separate candidates, the most spectacular of whom is by far the
    former MP Sebastian Ghita, who sought refuge in neighboring Serbia fleeing
    prosecution in Romania.








    The party
    describes Ghita as the Romanian who dealt a heavy blow to the new Securitate
    police, who exposed the system and the ‘elite’ Anticorruption Directorate, a
    man who militated for a country of the people and who became a target,
    harangued for having the courage to tell the truth.










    We recall Ghita
    voiced strong criticism against Laura Codruta Kovesi and the National
    Anticorruption Directorate, which he accused of allegedly abusing her office
    when investigating politicians for acts of corruption. Ghita’s election
    campaign is based on a nationalist anti-migration and Christian discourse, very
    similar to that of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. I don’t want to see
    Romania become the duchy of the Luxembourgish running Brussels! So I shout with
    all my might: Long live Great, United and Sovereign Romania!, Sebastian
    Ghita’s message to the Romanians reads.








    His campaign
    will most likely be marked by nationalist and xenophobic rhetoric. In turn,
    Social-Democratic leader Liviu Dragnea this weekend declared himself a
    pro-European, underlining however that Romania wanted to join the EU for a
    better life, not to return to a life in fear and terror. We wanted to join
    the European Union for access to development. We demand the same respect we’re
    offering. I can’t accept the fact that everything we say, everything we do
    should be criticized, attacked and blocked, while other people’s lies should be
    taken at face value, without proper verification, Dragnea said.








    This is a clear
    hint at the constant criticism voiced by Romania’s European partners regarding
    the repeated legislative modifications the ruling coalition in Romania has made
    in the field of the judiciary. On the other hand, the leader of the Democratic
    Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania, Kelemen Hunor, says the European Union
    is Europe’s the only viable solution to measure up to global powers and only
    political alternative for Romanians and Hungarians in Romania.



  • 13.12.2016

    13.12.2016

    Consultations — Le président de la Roumanie, Klaus Iohannis, entamera mercredi des consultations avec les partis politiques qui formeront le nouveau Parlement, après les élections législatives de dimanche. Le chef de l’Etat a précisé, lors d’une conférence de presse, qu’il allait discuter avec les représentants de ces formations de leur vision de l’avenir, en vue de la formation d’un nouveau cabinet. Klaus Iohannis a également affirmé qu’en fonction de ces entretiens il était très probable que le nouveau Parlement serait convoqué la semaine prochaine. Les critères d’intégrité pour la désignation du premier ministre, annoncés avant le début de la campagne électorale, restent valables, a-t-il ajouté. Rappelons-le, le président avait alors déclaré qu’il était hors de question de désigner pour ce poste une personne ayant des démêlés avec la justice.



    Elections — En Roumanie, le Parti social-démocrate (PSD) a remporté haut la main le scrutin parlementaire de ce dimanche, avec plus de 45% des suffrages exprimés au pays et à l’étranger, indique le Bureau électoral central, après le dépouillement de plus de 99, 82% des bulletins de vote. Il est suivi par le Parti national libéral (PNL) avec seulement 20% des voix, et par lUnion Sauvez la Roumanie (USR), parti issu de la société civile il y a juste quelques mois et qui est devenu, avec plus de 9% des suffrages, la troisième force politique parlementaire. Viennent ensuite le Parti l’Alliance des libéraux et des démocrates (ALDE- de droite), fondé par le président sortant du Sénat, Calin Popescu-Tariceanu, qui a ramassé environ 6%. Une autre formation politique qui a réussi à franchir le seuil électoral est lUnion démocrate magyare de Roumanie (UDMR). Elle a été votée massivement dans les départements du centre du pays, à population magyare majoritaire, ainsi que dans le comté de Satu Mare (nord-ouest). Excepté ces comtés et trois autres situés dans le centre de la Roumanie, où les libéraux sont sortis gagnants, le PSD s’est imposé sur le reste du pays et dans la capitale.



    PNL – Les libéraux roumains se réunissent aujourd’hui pour décider de la direction par interim du parti, après la démission de la présidente, Alina Gorghiu, et de certains membres importants de cette formation politique. Une démission qui s’explique par le faible résultat obtenu lors des élections législatives de dimanche. Alina Gorghiu a précisé que les nouveaux leaders seraient issus des trois filiales locales du PNL qui ont largement remporté ce scrutin, à savoir Sibiu, Alba et Cluj (au centre du pays).



    Finances — La Banque centrale de Roumanie rend public ce mardi son deuxième rapport annuel sur la stabilité financière du pays. C’est pour la première fois depuis 2006 que ce rapport paraît en deux éditions. Dans le document présenté en avril dernier, la Banque nationale soulignait que les risques pesant sur la stabilité financière de la Roumanie se multipliaient et devenaient plus intenses. Par ailleurs, le rapport en question mettait en garde contre un risque systémique sévère, engendré par le cadre législatif incertain et imprédictible dans le domaine financier et bancaire et par le fait qu’en matière de consolidation fiscale et budgétaire les progrès difficilement obtenus avaient tendance s’inverser.



    Moldova — La Cour constitutionnelle de la République de Moldova doit valider aujourd’hui le résultat des élections présidentielles du 13 novembre, remportées par le candidat socialiste Igor Dodon. La réunion de la Cour a été convoquée après que certaines institutions judiciaires du pays aient résolu les litiges liés au déroulement du scrutin présidentiel. Ce dernier a été contesté par les citoyens moldaves vivant en dehors du pays qui n’ont pas réussi à voter en raison du nombre insuffisant des bulletins de vote. Selon la radio publique moldave, les plaintes déposées par ceux-ci ont été rejetées par les tribunaux d’instance.



    Handball — La sélection de Roumanie affronte ce mardi l’équipe de République tchèque, dans un match comptant pour le deuxième groupe principal du Championnat d’Europe de handball féminin qui se déroule en Suède. Par ailleurs, les Hongroises doivent rencontrer les handballeuses norvégiennes, tandis que le Danemark jouera contre la Russie. En cas de victoire, l’équipe de Norvège deviendra la première demi finaliste du Championnat d’Europe. Rappelons que les sportives roumaines se sont adjugé dimanche une belle victoire devant la Hongrie (29 à 21). La première place du groupe est occupée par la Norvège, avec 6 points, suivie par la Roumanie et le Danemark, avec 4 points, la Russie et la République tchèque, avec 2 points et la Hongrie avec 0 points.

  • 18.12.2014

    18.12.2014

    Conseil — Le président roumain Traian Basescu a déclaré qu’il proposerait au Conseil européen de Bruxelles une solution pour que la Roumanie ne perde pas les fonds européens qui ne seront pas dépensés avant la fin 2015, alors que le Conseil négociera la création d’un fonds d’investissements de l’UE. Le président roumain propose que les Etats qui n’ont pas réussi à dépenser les fonds au cours d’une année, puissent contribuer avec leurs propres projets inachevés au prochain programme proposé par la Commission européenne, afin de pouvoir continuer à mettre en œuvre des programmes inachevés jusqu’en 2017. C’est ce qu’a déclaré aujourd’hui le président roumain avant de partir pour Bruxelles, où il participera à la réunion du Conseil européen. L’agenda des leaders européens inclut aussi la proposition de la Commission européenne de créer un fonds de l’UE consacré aux investissements, la situation en Ukraine et d’éventuelles nouvelles sanctions contre la Russie.



    Budget — A Bucarest, les commissions budget-finances du Parlement roumain poursuivent les débats en marge du budget de l’Etat et de celui de la sécurité sociale en 2015. Selon le document approuvé par le cabinet de Bucarest, la construction budgétaire repose sur un déficit de 1,8% du PIB et sur une inflation de 2,2%. Les ministères qui bénéficieront des budgets les plus généreux sont l’Emploi, les Finances, l’Agriculture, les Fons européens, les Transports et l’Economie. La Santé, la Culture, l’Administration et l’Intérieur se verront allouer les budgets les plus réduits. Le budget de l’Etat 2015 sera voté par le plénum du Législatif le 21 décembre.



    Libéraux — Le Bureau politique national du Parti national libéral (la principale force de l’opposition en Roumanie) a élu son président par intérim. Il sagit de la députée Alina Gorghiu, ex-porte-parole de la campagne présidentielle. Elle a remporté le scrutin interne face à son collègue Ludovic Orban. Un troisième candidat, le premier vice-président du parti, Teodor Atanasiu, a abandonné la course à la plus importante fonction au sein du PNL, en faveur d’Alina Gorghiu. Le président élu de la Roumanie, Klaus Iohannis, a démissionné aujourd’hui de ses fonctions à la tête du PNL pour devenir officiellement à partir de dimanche le chef de l’Etat roumain. Le président du Parti national libéral deviendra également co-président du nouveau PNL jusqu’à la fusion des partis national libéral et démocrate libéral au Congrès de 2017.



    Révolution — Les commémorations des victimes de la révolution anticommuniste roumaine se poursuivent à Timisoara, dans l’ouest de la Roumanie. Il y a 25 ans, le 18 décembre, la loi martiale était décrétée à Timisoara. Et pourtant, des dizaines de milliers de personnes descendaient dans les rues de la ville, dans un mouvement de contestation du régime sans précédent. Le 18 décembre 1989, les autorités commençaient à interroger les blessés soignés dans un hôpital de la ville et récupéraient des dizaines de cadavres de martyrs de la Révolution. Les évènements de Timisoara, déclenchées le 16 décembre, constituent l’étincelle qui a déclenché la Révolution roumaine, qui allait culminer quelques jours plus tard avec la chute du régime du dictateur communiste Nicolae Ceausescu. Plus de mille personnes sont mortes et 3400 ont été blessées durant les événements de décembre 1989. La Roumanie a été l’unique pays de l’Europe de l’est à renverser le régime communiste par la violence et à exécuter ses ex-dirigeants.



    Handball — La sélection féminine de handball de Roumanie a gagné son dernier match au Championnat européen organisé conjointement par la Hongrie et la Croatie ; les tricolores ont vaincu la Pologne sur le score de 24 à 19. Pourtant, la Roumanie termine 9e cette compétition. Dans le groupe principal, la Roumanie a également vaincu l’Espagne, mais elle a perdu le match contre la Hongrie. Lors de cette édition de l’Euro de handball, les sportives roumaines ont vaincu l’Ukraine, terminé à égalité avec le Danemark et perdu le match contre la Norvège.